Adventures from Manchester

Hello readers! It's been a long time. I wanted to update you on my somewhat recent return to Manchester for the graduation and culmination of my year.

I had been waiting for December 16th, 2011 (my graduation) for everything to "sink in" and really be "real". I would then "really" have my master's degree, and "really" be done with my year in Manchester, officially. In what was a tremendous and exciting blur of a year of adventures with, [what I aimed for,] the mundane-ness of just living in England long enough to reach that point, many things seemed to go by very quickly. In one short year, I travelled to 4 different countries and throughout England, acted as an active ambassador for America, represented the NAFUM merit scholarship, taught in the International Society, learned about other cultures, shared a flat with 5 other roommates from many different countries(, native languages, and food smells), acquired some of the best friends I've ever known from many corners of the world, and studied enough to earn a degree that in the US can take anywhere from 2-5 years to obtain. As we were told in our orientation, it wasn't "easier", it was just more exigent in order to cover the same ground. So it's understandable that I'm still processing and appreciating this year. And a wonderful event to ponder this was my return to Manchester.

My mom and dad came with me, and it was very special. They decided to travel, while one of my best friends from the year, Jackie, and I decided that our goal was to just "be" back in Manchester, which we happily accomplished by visiting with all of the old friends and favorite places from our year. I also caught up with my Rotary scholarship counselors.
I was so excited to be able to meet up with both my Spanish professor, Oscar, and my dissertation supervisor, Juup. I got so excited I even started talking to Juup about doing another master's with him, but he firmly encouraged that I am ready to make my next step a PhD. I think I'll need a bit more time to get on that one...

While Jackie and I were enjoying being back, and reveling in the weirdness that it didn't seem weird or like we had been gone at all, we walked all over Manchester, picking up our dissertations, visiting the campus, friends (Steph, Virginia and Silvia), my all-time favorite restuarants (especially Nando's!), and even seeing a musical ("Dirty Dancing", which, thankfully, unlike "Rocky Horror", did not have the same death-defying rickety-balcony jumping audience participation dancing, which I was quite thankful for).

After graduation, my family and I headed to our English family's, the Davis's, near London. We had a great visit and even got to see some extended family. Sarah, Anthony and I also got to hang out, which was so great. They are to thank for a large part of my Word on the Street from this update (and PS, do let me know if I've gotten any wrong!).

Even after a couple of months, which is now, I still don't feel like I suddenly had a clear ending to this adventure of a year. But, perhaps that is because this is not so much an ending, as a chapter. I am already looking forward to finding the next one, and will let you know as soon as I've started my next blog: Adventures in _____________???.
Lots of love,
Kim

Word on the Street:
Pinch= steal
Slip road= on ramp (highway)
Lie in= a sleep in (noun; we don't really have it)
Pottering about= puttering around
Domestic= family fight
Razor wire= barbed wire
Works= construction
Torch= flashlight
Zebra crossing= crosswalk
Chuffed to bits= pleased; happy
Faffing about= procrastinating to make a bigger work of something
Having a chin wag= to gossip
Bobble= hair tie
Conk= nose
Backwards and forwards= back and forth (as in driving backwards and forwards to Chicago)
Jabs= gestures
Saloon= sedan (car type)
Slapper= trashy woman
Diet word= less harsh word
Short/longsighted= near/farsighted
Dippy= ditzy
Whinge= to vent

• Trying to snow

Sledging= sledding

• Making a brew

Hello loyal readers!
I am writing you my final Adventures in Manchester update as I have now made the transition back to the States! Somewhere between Manchester and Chicago time zones, it seems a good time to reflect and share on what's been going on, so here's what I've been up to since the last update!

My friend Virginia and I, after much talk and a little drooling, decided we had the knowhow to make Nutella crepes from scratch. It turned out to be a great success, and soooo yummy, and was a ton of fun. So much so, that it actually inspired a later crepes party (called What the Crepe) which would be my last official kitchen party. People brought their own toppings and we made a stack of fresh crepes- so amazing! That will definitely have to happen again soon.

Jackie, Anna and I saw the UK Glee concert in Manchester, which was so fun! I got a shirt that lists the UK tour which was very cool. The only thing not cool was that they decided to sell whistles as memorabilia, and one whistle-happy mate behind us thought he was part of the group. If he would have gone off the balcony, I would not have had any clue as to how that happened.... Also, we decided that since the concert was two nights (and our tickets were the second), we would outsmart the system by getting to the concert the first night way early to wait for autographs. After some good-natured lurking and stalking, we unfortunately had nothing to show for our efforts because they decided not to sign autographs and just book it out of there. So sad! Especially because they did do autographs in the States. Ah well. We did see them drive right by us (!) in their little getaway van. Practially the same thing.

My friend Silvia has introduced me to some great Greek guys who invited us to this barbeque last weekend. It was soooo good and really nice to relax and enjoy some great food and company as well as the sun!

Then on the 4th, my friend Ryan (another Ambassadorial Scholar) hosted a barbeque in Platts Field Park, where there was everything from disposable barbeques (weird but great) to bubbles (yay me) to every kind of sport conglomeration to apple pie and a flag cake. It was so nice and different to celebrate the 4th in another country! Very good times.

This weekend, after scurrying around to get things sorted for my move, I was able to enjoy a lot of really great times with friends. We tried to go to this Broadway bar (which sounded so amazing!) but unfortunately it had closed last year! Ah well. So, we hit some other fun places including Temple Bar (where Sarah, Anna and I went first in Manchester, which is also a previous public toilet) and a karaoke place. The next day, a bunch of my friends and I went to Nando's (best fast food place in the UK!) and then the Oxford for drinks. It was such a great and special evening with some of my closest friends. Couldn't have asked for anything more . The last day, after a frenzy of packing (which I swore would only take 20 minutes! Ahem...) I had a really nice surprise tea party with my roommates. So nice of them! Then, I met Jackie, Anna, Sarah, and Katherine for dinner at our favorite Thai place, which was of course inexplicably closed. So, we went to this other place and had a lovely time. I was surprised with some really amazing cards (which I waited until the plane ride, as instructed, to read!) and a mini Henry. [The vacuum cleaners in the UK were at one point cheered up with a face and a name, often Henry, and now is available as cute keychains and toys as well. After seeing it once I decided I needed one but couldn't find any the rest of the year! Then my friends surprised me with a real working desk-sized Henry! Yesssss. ]

Here's some more pics:

It might seem from the outside that this should be my Profound Time of Reflection. And in a sense, it is. But since the move home just happened, and I'm also still working on my dissertation (to be submitted in September, though in my case hopefully earlier), it seems that this is more of a transition step than a chapter closing. And I think that's great. This year has been a dream of mine for a long time, and despite many unanticipated challenges, turned out to still be a dream come true. I am so inspired by this year in so many ways, and feel like I have gotten so much out of it already, though more will come with time. I feel like I cannot adequately put it into words, but in order to share with you and also since this blog has been my journal, I will try.

-I've learned that there are just some things you can't prepare for, and there are some that you don't need to.
-I've learned how to learn all on my own, and I've learned how amazing it is to learn from people who can really teach.
-I've learned that not having a plan can be the best plan of them all.
-I've learned that the depth of friendship can surprise you, regardless of time, expectations, or circumstance.
-I've learned that my evaluation of my success is the most important one of all.
-I've learned that I am infinitely curious and inspired by other people, especially the more different we are.
-I've learned that I will ALWAYS jump at that weekly dorm fire alarm on Thursdays at 10:45am.
-I've learned that I will almost always misjudge when I really do need that umbrella. This past weekend alone I was drenched about 3 times, and equipped with an umbrella in the cheerful sunshine about 4. Just a little wink from Manchester I'm sure.
-I've learned how special it is to spend time with family and friends.
-I've learned that creating a new world is great, and that bringing worlds together is greater.
-I've learned that taking from people isn't as taxing on them as you fear, and that you give to them in ways that you don't even know.
-I've learned that a part of me will always want to travel and maybe live abroad. Get ready next blog...

Word on the street:
flapjack= pancake
upstanding= standing ("Would you please be upstanding for the toast?")
sat= seated ("We were all sat round the table")
pinch= steal
dead + adjective = super whatever ("I was dead impressed")
right* = (refocuser; "Right. Let's go get a drink.")
slagged off= insulted
manoeuvre= maneuver
till= cash register
good fun*
razor wire= barbed wire
works= construction

CHEERS!

Hola!
Happy almost weekend. I miss you the most!

It's been a while since things have been quite busy with second semester. But, I have some exciting events to share! First, some friends and I saw Hugh Laurie a few blocks from my dorm, performing in a blue grass jazz concert. Me being the highly discerning blue grass jazz aficionado, thought it sounded pretty and fun. I particularly liked that Dr. House himself shared some whisky with his band onstage. He's a cool guy. Not cool enough to give us poor Americans an autograph as we stood in the rain, but still cool. Very fun times! Rock on House. (Also, I should really know by now that I should ALWAYS have an umbrella. Totally Sound of Music-ed it up with the whole drenched in the rain thing. Hey, that's what waterproof mascara is for, no?)

I hosted another party, this time a schmancy-ish tea party. It was a blast, but somehow I forgot to take any pictures after the shot of my assorted teas and paraphernalia, so you'll just have to trust me on that. I'm thinking about doing fondue, sans fondue pot, for the next one. If anyone knows how to pull this off, please do advise. We have enough kitchen fires without my help.

I finally ate in a restaurant on the Curry Mile, famed section of the main Oxford Road that is super packed with neon lights and tons of ethnic restaurants, hence the name. We went out for Anna's birthday to this Indian food restaurant, which was also my first time going to one. I thought that our waitor should know. I'm sure he appreciated that.

People are starting to depart, including my friend Jacquelyn. But, not before we had some fun! We had a great marathon weekend of festivities which may or may not have included What Not To Wear-ing a bear skeleton. Don't ask. And it's so not us in the picture, if anyone asks...

So glad to have finished up second semester, and just got back from a lovely and relaxing trip to the Canary Islands of Spain with Jackie and Sarah. We did a bit of exploring but mostly enjoyed the sunshine. I was so happy to be speaking Spanish to everyone I saw . Also, part of me might have died and gone to heaven upon reuniting with my favorite Spanish cookies. A box may have made its way back to Manchester. Cause it's awesome.

Now, things are starting (or continuing) to overlap, such as when I should head back to the States, working on my dissertation, job interviews, and other considerations. After going back and forth, and back again, then changing the plan completely, it looks like I will stay here a bit longer (depending on these things) and see how much of my researching I can do from here. This is a good plan because I'll have the resources from the University and also not have to scramble to leave as I would have otherwise. It's tough because not knowing all of the variables and timing makes sure decisions impossible, but I know it will all work out for the best.
No pasa nada (basically, "nothing to it")

That's all for now!
Toodles

Word on the street:
Push chair= stroller
Letter box= mail box
Petrol= gas
Fizzy drink= pop
Traffic light= stoplight
Satnav= GPS
Junction= intersection

Hello blog readers!
I hope you guys are all doing well and if I haven't told you recently, you're my favorite.

Just to recap the last few weeks, I went to my British family's home outside of London for Passover, which was really great. I'm so glad because it was a really special, low-key visit- exactly what I needed!

The last few weeks (and especially this week!) have been busy as I've been catching up on work, but the end is in sight! Kind of. Just finished all of my classes this week for the second semester, and my final assessments are underway, followed by the dissertation. A valuable insight I've been gaining this year is that the most important thing should be, and is, my own evaluation of my work, achievements, and learning. And let me tell you- I am learning a lot! It's been such a motivating year in many ways that I'm really valuing- having INCREDIBLE teachers like my second language acquisition teacher (who I'll be working on my dissertation with) and my Spanish teacher. The Spanish class has been so cool, surreal, and inspiring because it is much more like a typical "high school Spanish" class; in that (especially my grammar skills section) the teacher leads communicative activities, cultural explorations, and grammar teaching, and is really enthusiastic about your learning! I love studying Spanish just in itself, but it's so great to be on the student side of this type of class again. I'm kind of processing it simultaneously as a student and a Spanish teacher, and I just love it. I'm so glad I worked so hard to get into this class in the first place, because it's been a perfect opportunity for me to hone my language skills further, and challenge myself to understand how native speaker Spanish differs from "textbook" Spanish. (I've even almost stopped saying in my head, "but that's not the RULE!" )

We recently had the Ambassadorial Scholars Celebration dinner, which had been called the "farewell" dinner even though it's in May and the term ends in September. It was a great evening and the scholars all gave their thoughts about what this year has meant, and how we have fulfilled in our own ways the missions of this scholarship- international goodwill, peace and understanding. I found that I explained this with a heavy basis on the role of my friends. I have made such incredible friends this year, and feel like I learned the most about life this year from them. Different perceptions lead to different insights, and this has been an insightful and treasured experience.

I've also been stopping to smell the roses quite a bit recently (figuratively; I have allergies! ). Meaning, I've been enjoying the very rare sunshine outside, hanging out with friends, going for walks, etc. and just really making sure that there is a balance of work and enjoying life and friends here. I've always been a person that's very aware of the finiteness of situations, which I think is a good thing because it does encourage me to enjoy them while they are occurring. How cool that this study abroad experience is long enough that I run the risk of it becoming mundane. I really am so grateful for this year. I'm not a person that believes everything happens for a reason, but I do believe that a lot of good, strength, and learning can come from anything.
Cheers!

Me and my cousin Sarah

The Ambassadorial Scholars celebration dinner with the other scholars and district governor, and below, with my counselors Jackie and Derek


My first Sunday roast- very typical English food

Word on the street:
Ageing*
Jelly= our Jell-o
Jam= our jelly
Marmelade= our jam
Mooching = bumming around
Call at = stop by
Have a shower*
Gutted= utterly disappointed
Chav= tariler trash
Lead= leash
Crocodile clips= hair clips (that snap?)

Hey everyone,

Just had a terrific weekend visit with Sara and one of my close friends Christine. They came in from the States with Manchester as the first stop on a longer Spring Break trip. I must say, I'm getting quite good at the Manchester tour guide role We had some great fish and chips at Krobar (same place as the picture from the beginning of the year) and Anthony joined us too. I guess people could tell we were a special bunch because we got approached to be on a TV show! Of course, I was the only one suckered into signing up so I'll let you guys know how that one worked out. They actually called me for an interview today...eeps. Anyways, we also walked around the Town Hall, Albert Square, they saw a football game with Man United, we had high tea, I showed them the University and my dorm, and the best part was a mini fiesta where they could meet my friends! I'm so happy with my amazing friends here, but in a context like this where you're somewhat isolated from your normal world, it feels great to be able to bring those realms together. Everyone had a great time, and I was over the moon that my look-alike friends Christine and Steph could meet, surreal as that was! So, polling the audience- do we think this is a Parent Trap situation (twins separated at birth) or an It Takes Two (two girls who are identical but somehow aren't sisters)? The vote is on!

I'm in my vacation now so I'll be trying to get my assessments and studying done, but hoping to visit my English family for a short stay as well. My friends are going to try to see the world premiere of Ghost the musical, and we're seeing Hugh Laurie doing a folk (?) concert here in Manchester soon as well.

Pics up soon! Sara, Christine and I decided to not nuisance poor passerby with 3 cameras at each photo op, so I'm missing several, but I've included a couple for now!

Hugs to all,
Kim

Word on the street:
Toilet roll= toilet paper
Done and dusted= totally complete
Waffle = to be indecisive